In a week, Europe will regain its independence in space launches – the new Vega C rocket is ready for flight

The European Space Agency (ESA) has announced that it will launch a new lightweight rocket, Vega C, after December 3. The rocket has previously completed two launches, the last of which resulted in an accident and loss of payload. The resumption of launches of the Vega C launch vehicle will be the latest step in Europe’s independence in space launches after the successful test of the Ariane 6 heavy rocket this summer.

Installation of the Sentinel-1C satellite under the fairing of the Vega C launch vehicle on November 19, 2024. Image source: ESA

The Vega C rocket entered service in 2022. In the summer of the same year, it launched into orbit the 295-kg LARES-2 satellite, developed by the Italian Space Agency, as well as six accompanying cubesats. The second launch on December 21, 2022 ended in an accident minutes after launch. As an investigation later showed, the nozzle insert of the second stage Zefiro 40 engine burned out. It was an element of Ukrainian production, and ESA terminated the contract with its manufacturer.

The development and production of new Zefiro 40 engine components took time and required two fire tests – in the spring and autumn of this year. At the same time, the rocket designers revised the overall design of the project and made a number of design improvements. It is expected that the new version of the Vega C rocket will be easier to manufacture and better to operate. You can be sure of this already on December 3 or a day or two later. ESA is not yet ready to name the exact launch day, but they also do not intend to delay it.

The Sentinel-1C radar Earth sensing satellite was selected as the payload for launch on December 3. This device is a replacement for the Sentinel-1B satellite, which failed almost three years ago and was declared lost in August 2022. Only the aging Sentinel-1A apparatus remains in orbit, which urgently needs support. The return of the Vega C rocket to flight, as well as the commissioning of the Ariane 6 rocket, will allow Europe to avoid recourse to the services of SpaceX.

«This is an important step for Europe’s independent access to space, or, let’s say, the restoration of independent access to space,” said Toni Tolker-Nielsen, ESA’s Director of Space Delivery. “The fact that we can return Vega C to flight is a very important step for Europe.”